Camiguin
is a favorite destination for many tourists, whether local or foreign travelers.
This beautiful island, born of fire from a volcanic eruption, features a wide
array of amazing spots to explore, places to visit. You’ll never run out of
things to do when visiting Camiguin.

Aside from the distinctive shape of island, looking like a sleeping woman when viewed from one side, the island is also known for its sweet lanzones fruits. Not all tourists are lucky enough to taste these sweet treats on the island because it is a seasonal fruit but if you plan to visit in October, then you can also witness how the little province celebrates the annual Lanzones Festival plus get the chance to indulge your taste buds with this grape-sized tropical fruit.

Most of the people who visit
Camiguin also take a trip to White Island, a sandbar some 2 km from the shores
of Mambajao. Not too many go out of their way to explore Mantigue Island. If
you are one of those who spent time on White Island but never bothered to visit Mantigue, then you had actually missed the chance to explore a tropical
paradise.

Compared with White Island’s bare
beauty, Mantigue is rich in vegetation. Both do have wonderful waters rich with
various tropical marine life but Mantigue’s is more stunning. Perhaps because
it has been declared as a nature park where fishing is prohibited or perhaps
because of the rich vegetation in the area.

The Trip

May 17,Summer 2014 | From Cagayan de Oro we took the earliest
Butuan bound bus trip going to Port of Balingoan, the gateway to Camiguin Province.
After more or less 2-hour bus ride, we arrived in Port of Balingoan around 6:30
AM and able to catch the 7:30 AM RORO trip going to Port of Benoni of Camiguin
Province. So much excitement! The one-hour sea travel from Port of Balingoan to
Benoni seems so long!

We arrived in Camiguin Province
around 8:30 AM. From Port of Benoni, we took a
jeepney ride going to Barangay San Roque where the boat station going to
Mantigue Island is located. We paid P550.00 for a boat ride, maximum of 6
people, going to the island and travelled for 25-30 minutes.

And the rest is history hahaha... JUMP,
SHOOT, DIVE, SWIM, SUNBURN! A perfect adventure/destination to end 2014’s
SUMMER.

Beautiful Mantigue

Mantigue Island obviously
mesmerized me the moment I get-off the boat and saw her beautiful and perfect
coastline of powdery-white coral sands. The island is beyond its beauty. Yes, she’s a beautiful [forever virgin] lady!

The crystal clear waters of
Mantigue will amaze your senses – with corals and fishes easy to view even from
a boat. You don’t even have to step into the island or swim its waters to enjoy
the tropical sights. Of course, in doing so, you’ll defeat the purpose of your
trip to the island. So, you’d better get your snorkeling and swimming gear
ready – an underwater camera would be a huge plus in these areas, I tell you.

A wide variety of fish species thrive in the
crystal clear waters surrounding Mantigue Island. Vibrant colors greet your
eyes as you snorkel in the peaceful waters. Be careful not to step on the
corals or, worse, on the spiky spines of sea urchins. Ouch! There’s plenty of
that at Mantigue, so, be extra careful.

This amazing island features fine, white sand that appears to glimmer under the intense heat of the sun. You can actually walk barefoot on the island, enjoying the soft sand under your feet.

After enjoying hours of swimming
in the warm, tropical waters, you can explore the rest of the island. The fact
that Mantigue has lush vegetation actually makes it a better choice compared
with White Island because you could always take shelter under the trees to
enjoy a picnic or simply rest and commune with nature. That way, you can spend
more time on the island without having to worry about where to find shelter
from the sweltering heat by noon. That should also mean more value for the
money because you don’t have to hurry back to the mainland.

This is not to say that White
Island isn’t a beautiful place to visit. Of course, Mantigue and White Islands
have their own, unique appeal to tourists. But if you have limited time and
have to choose only one place to visit, Mantigue might just be the right place
for you.

CLICK, CLICK, and CLICK!

Jumpshot? CHECK!

Trivia

Mantigue Island, also known as
Magsaysay Island, is
about 4 hectares in size and declared as National Park and Sanctuary of
different marine species. The western side of the island is the beach area with
gleaming white beach of fine coral sand while the other side is a fishing
village composing of more or less 20 homes.

Travel Notes

The boat station going to
Mantigue Island is located in Barangay San Roque, Mahinog, less than 5 minutes
from Port of Benoni and more or less 30 minutes away from Mambajao (the capital
town of the province). Boat rental costs P550.00, maximum of 6 pax, life jacket
is already included.

Entrance fee is P10.00 only.

Snorkelling and diving? Yep,
Mantigue Island’s marine sanctuary is the perfect site! Snorkelling is one of
the must-try activities in the island. If you have your own gears/equipment,
snorkelling Fee is P50.00 but if you don’t have, you can rent from the stall
for P250.00 (including other FEES).

There are picnic huts for rent
inside the Mantigue Nature Park.

Overnight stay in the island is
not allowed. Be sure to leave the Island before 4:00 PM.

There is a restaurant/canteen in
the island. Cooking is allowed – NO FEE.

How to Get There

From Manila, you can take direct
flights of Philippine Airlines/PAL Express, Cebu Pacific Air, to Cagayan de Oro
City. Flying time is more or less one hour and 20 minutes. Cebu Pacific Air flies from Cebu
to Camiguin.

18 comments:

Camaguin island!!! Wow!!! My dream place to trip to... Your photo's is already awesome what more in the real experience?? and those jump shot, wow!!! , It's definitely an awesome experience in there...

Beautiful! It is rare to find pristine beaches now. Most have been developed into commercialized resorts where hordes of tourists go to. I love going to places that are more private and secluded (and cheap). Thanks for sharing. Who knows i might get to visit that place someday.

About Me

Traveling Morion is a [frustrated] photographer, [diary] writer, and [self-proclaimed] travel blogger. He is currently working as a Social Development Practitioner and spends his non-working days in traveling, blogging, and photography.
BTW, he is also a certified gwapo [in 360 photos] and suplado.
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